SPORTS DIGEST || Mooney grad gets gym college career started

Cardinal Mooney graduate Jennifer Sklenar was named East Coast Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week in gymnastics for the week ending on Jan. 26. She competes for State University of New York at Brockport.

The freshman scored a 9.500 on the beam in a meet at Springfield, then helped the Golden Eagles record a season-high team score of 186.550 in a Division I meet at Brown.

Sklenar’s season high scores so far are 9.700 on floor exercise, 9.500 on balance beam and 9.000 on bars. She is ranked No. 1 on beam in the latest national Division III rankings.

Springfield at Lisbon tickets sold in advance

LISBON

Tickets for the Springfield at Lisbon boys basketball game on Friday will be on sale in advance at both schools.

Tickets at the Lisbon athletic office are $7 for reserved seats, $6 for adults and $4 for students. Reserved seats will be sold only in advance, there will be no reserved seat sale at the game.

Report: Browns hire defensive line assistant

AKRON

The Browns have hired former University of Hawaii linebackers coach Tony Tuioti as an assistant defensive line coach, a source familiar with the situation confirmed for the Akron Beacon Journal on Tuesday. The source spoke on condition of anonymity, because the Browns have yet to announce the move. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser first reported the hire Monday night, citing multiple unnamed sources.

Tuioti had been with Hawaii since 2008. He spent two seasons as the program’s director of player personnel, two as its defensive tackles coach and two as its linebackers coach.

Last week, FootballScoop.com reported defensive line coach Anthony Weaver would leave the Buffalo Bills to fill the same position for the Browns, who haven’t announced that move, either.

Braves reach long-term deals with two stars

ATLANTA

The Atlanta Braves agreed to an eight-year contract Tuedsay with first baseman Freddie Freeman that is worth about $125 million. Earlier in the day, outfielder Jason Heyward and the Braves agreed to a $13.3 million, two-year contract.

The 24-year-old Freeman was an All-Star last year when he hit .319 with 23 homers and 109 RBIs. Heyward is coming off an injury-filled season in which he hit .254 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs in a career-low 104 games during his fourth season with the Braves. Closer Craig Kimbrel is the Braves’ only player left in arbitration.

Ex-NBA star McGrady tries hand as pitcher

HOUSTON

Tracy McGrady, the retired seven-time NBA All-Star, is aiming to become a baseball player, and plans to try pitching for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League. A statement from the Skeeters says that it is a “lifelong dream” of McGrady’s to play baseball. “McGrady has demonstrated skill, determination and diligence during his training program,” the statement said. “We look forward to monitoring his progress.”

McGrady, 34, made seven consecutive All-Star games from 2001-07. He spent three seasons with the Toronto Raptors before becoming a star with the Magic. He spent four years with Orlando and led the NBA in scoring in the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons. He then joined the Rockets where he teamed with Yao Ming to help Houston to three playoff appearances. He retired with more than 18,000 points and 5,000 rebounds in his career.

Submit basketball stats

Area basketball coaches and statisticians are encouraged to submit their school’s season statistics to the Vindicator sports department.

Stats, through the previous Saturday’s games, should be submitted each week by 5 p.m. Tuesday. Please email the statistics to dchapin@vindy.com or fax them to 330-747-6712, attention Doug Chapin.